--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Let us not look back in anger, nor…" description: "\"Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around in awareness.\" — James Thurber" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/090/james-thurber-1534_anger_let-us-not-look-back-in-anger-nor-forwar_718543.png" --- # Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but… ![“Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around in awareness.” quote by James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/090/james-thurber-1534_anger_let-us-not-look-back-in-anger-nor-forwar_718543.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/090/james-thurber-1534_anger_let-us-not-look-back-in-anger-nor-forwar_718543.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/090/james-thurber-1534_anger_let-us-not-look-back-in-anger-nor-forwar_718543.png) > “Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around in awareness.” [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages present‑moment awareness, avoiding past anger or future fear, focusing on conscious observation. **In simple terms:** Stay aware now, not angry or fearful. Key Takeaway Practice mindful presence. Themes mindfulness awareness emotional regulation Mood calm thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - meditation - daily reflection - stressful situations Key Concepts psychology philosophy well‑being Questions to Reflect On - What does awareness look like for you? - How can you shift from fear to curiosity? A Different Perspective May be unrealistic in crisis moments. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) [Awareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awareness/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) ## Related quotes > [“Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around in awareness. James Thurber”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candy-paull/let-us-not-look-back-in-anger-nor-forward-in-fear-but-around-in-2/) [Candy Paull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candy-paull/) > [“Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around inebriated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-alejandro-king-aka-the-covert-comic/let-us-not-look-back-in-anger-nor-forward-in-fear-but-around/) [John Alejandro King aka The Covert Comic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-alejandro-king-aka-the-covert-comic/) > [I live in a kind of controlled awareness. I wouldn't call it fear, but it's an awareness. I know I have a responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-tyler-moore/i-live-in-a-kind-of-controlled-awareness-i-wouldn-t-call-it-fear-but/) [Mary Tyler Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-tyler-moore/) > [Courage isn't absenct of fear, it is the awareness that something else is important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/courage-isn-t-absenct-of-fear-it-is-the-awareness-that-something-else/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“So if we are feeling angry at someone, we sit and generate thoughts of loving-kindness towards him. We start by generating thoughts of loving-kindness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-tenzin-palmo/so-if-we-are-feeling-angry-at-someone-we-sit-and-generate-thoughts-of/) [Ani Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-tenzin-palmo/) > [“A steely look of anger flared in my mother’s eyes, and I thought, just maybe, I was leaving her in good hands after all.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/a-steely-look-of-anger-flared-in-my-mother-s-eyes-and-i-thought-just/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [When I grew up, in the time of 'Look Back in Anger,' the theatre was very exciting, a place where you felt that social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-pigott-smith/when-i-grew-up-in-the-time-of-look-back-in-anger-the-theatre-was-very/) [Tim Pigott-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-pigott-smith/) > [By taking a look at your anger it can be transformed into the kind of energy that you need - understanding and compassion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/by-taking-a-look-at-your-anger-it-can-be-transformed-into-the-kind-of/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [“Something about her is so tempting to look at. Her anger has a childish aura as if she isn’t made of real evil; just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-jace/something-about-her-is-so-tempting-to-look-at-her-anger-has-a/) [Cameron Jace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-jace/) > [I doubt if I could love anyone who did not wish to see Look Back in Anger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-tynan/i-doubt-if-i-could-love-anyone-who-did-not-wish-to-see-look-back-in/) [Kenneth Tynan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-tynan/) > [“Their greatest fear is you may step forward without fear. Because your courage may become contagious.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-althouse/their-greatest-fear-is-you-may-step-forward-without-fear-because-your/) [Tom Althouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-althouse/) > [We learn courageous action by going forward whenever fear urges us back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-seabury/we-learn-courageous-action-by-going-forward-whenever-fear-urges-us/) [David Seabury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-seabury/) > [To go back is nothing but death: to go forward is fear of death, and life everlasting beyond it. I will yet go forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/to-go-back-is-nothing-but-death-to-go-forward-is-fear-of-death-and/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [To go back is nothing but death; but to go forward is fear of death and life everlasting beyond.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/to-go-back-is-nothing-but-death-but-to-go-forward-is-fear-of-death/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [There are those that say, if you do the uncomfortable thing long enough, it will become comfortable. But we are really not encouragers of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/there-are-those-that-say-if-you-do-the-uncomfortable-thing-long/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) ## More by James Thurber > [ Salvador \[Dali\] was brought up in Spain, a country colored by the legends of Hannibal, El Greco, and Cervantes. I was brought up in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/salvador-dali-was-brought-up-in-spain-a-country-colored-by-the/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [“Her own mother lived the latter years of her life in the horrible suspicion that electricity was dripping invisibly all over the house.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/her-own-mother-lived-the-latter-years-of-her-life-in-the-horrible/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [“Against the may, the could be, and the should, folly 'tis to balance doubt or hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/against-the-may-the-could-be-and-the-should-folly-tis-to-balance/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Love is the strange bewilderment that overtakes one person on account of another person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/love-is-the-strange-bewilderment-that-overtakes-one-person-on-account/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [“ There was an old coddle so molly, He talked in a glot that was poly, His gaws were so gew That his laps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/there-was-an-old-coddle-so-molly-he-talked-in-a-glot-that-was-poly/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [“you might as well fall on your face as lean over too far backwards”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/you-might-as-well-fall-on-your-face-as-lean-over-too-far-backwards/) [james thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [I myself have known some profoundly thoughtful dogs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/i-myself-have-known-some-profoundly-thoughtful-dogs/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [He knows all about art, but he doesn't know what he likes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/he-knows-all-about-art-but-he-doesn-t-know-what-he-likes/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [All men should strive to learn before they die, what they are running from, and to, and why.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/all-men-should-strive-to-learn-before-they-die-what-they-are-running/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Quick, name some towns in New Jersey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/quick-name-some-towns-in-new-jersey/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Looks can be deceiving; it's eating that's believing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/looks-can-be-deceiving-it-s-eating-that-s-believing/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [“I don’t understand,” said the scientist, “why you lemmings all rush down to the sea and drown yourselves.” “How curious,” said the lemming. “The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/i-don-t-understand-said-the-scientist-why-you-lemmings-all-rush-down/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Humor does not include sarcasm, invalid irony, sardonicism, innuendo, or any other form of cruelty. When these things are raised to a high point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/humor-does-not-include-sarcasm-invalid-irony-sardonicism-innuendo-or/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Where most of us end up there is no knowing, but the hellbent get where they are going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/where-most-of-us-end-up-there-is-no-knowing-but-the-hellbent-get/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Comedy has to be done en clair. You can't blunt the edge of wit or the point of satire with obscurity. Try to imagine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/comedy-has-to-be-done-en-clair-you-can-t-blunt-the-edge-of-wit-or-the/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) [Explore all 229 James Thurber quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) ## More Anger quotes > [“If I let myself think of it the pain and anger were still fresh, adrenalin racing down my limbs to pool, hot and itchy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylie-ladd/if-i-let-myself-think-of-it-the-pain-and-anger-were-still-fresh/) [Kylie Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kylie-ladd/) > [I receive something we might euphemistically call an 'inappropriately hostile' response - that is to say, more than fair criticism or even fair anger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beard/i-receive-something-we-might-euphemistically-call-an-inappropriately/) [Mary Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-beard/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Anger is a rough water; if you can canalize it into a water mill, you can benefit from it. Anything bad can be transformed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/anger-is-a-rough-water-if-you-can-canalize-it-into-a-water-mill-you/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [“When you feel terribly angry, you're possessed by anger ghost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/when-you-feel-terribly-angry-you-re-possessed-by-anger-ghost/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [“Medical studies have shown that cursing reduces levels of stress and pain. Repressing your anger is not healthy. It's much better to verbalize it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/medical-studies-have-shown-that-cursing-reduces-levels-of-stress-and/) [Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/) > [My care will be in the heart n not in words My anger will be in Words n not in the Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/my-care-will-be-in-the-heart-n-not-in-words-my-anger-will-be-in-words/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-a-negro-in-this-country-and-to-be-relatively-conscious-is-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“God, you had enough time to have been through it three times. You've been through my stuff. I bet you over and let one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/god-you-had-enough-time-to-have-been-through-it-three-times-you-ve/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [The present contains nothing more than the past, and what is found in the effect was already in the cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/the-present-contains-nothing-more-than-the-past-and-what-is-found-in/) [Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/) > [Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/depression-is-merely-anger-without-enthusiasm/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [I always fight better when my opponent's angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-haye/i-always-fight-better-when-my-opponent-s-angry/) [David Haye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-haye/) > [ “Where there are kashays (anger-pride-deceit-greed), there is worldly life. As long as anger-pride-deceit-greed exist; one is a sansaari \[living a worldly life\] regardless of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-are-kashays-anger-pride-deceit-greed-there-is-worldly/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) [Browse all 7,469 Anger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around in awareness.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Thurber" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/let-us-not-look-back-in-anger-nor-forward-in-fear-but-around-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anger" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/let-us-not-look-back-in-anger-nor-forward-in-fear-but-around-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/090/james-thurber-1534_anger_let-us-not-look-back-in-anger-nor-forwar_718543.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/090/james-thurber-1534_anger_let-us-not-look-back-in-anger-nor-forwar_718543.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/090/james-thurber-1534_anger_let-us-not-look-back-in-anger-nor-forwar_718543.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around in awareness.” — James Thurber", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "James Thurber", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Let us not look back in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/let-us-not-look-back-in-anger-nor-forward-in-fear-but-around-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/let-us-not-look-back-in-anger-nor-forward-in-fear-but-around-in/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```